Ah Fong was an old peasant who} lived about thirty miles from Ning. po, a place where a large number Qf people go to reside when things wrong. But instead of living on ill-gotten wealth extracted from the simpler people of Shanghai under form of extortion generally called piece-goods ' contract, Ah Fong lived more or less on the soil. It depended entirely upon the harvest] and his own exertions whether it was more—or less. In any event Ah Fong never developed a well-Tined paunch, and was, in fact, al meagre sort of man like "yon lean Cassius." When all is said and done, you know, there is not a great deal 0 be taken off five mow of land, and When that property is situated three} _br four Li from one's home something thas to be done about it. Consequently rather than pay the cost of 'transportation, to and from his work, Joh Fong decided that he would build Aim a little hut on the land, and lot Dut the town residence, and this he eventually did. So reed, with wattle plentifully beduubed on the outside, Protected him from the inclement! winds of winter, and the burning aummer sun, while Cassius sought the only refuge from hunger—sleep.
Tt had been a particularly bad year, The wheat had refuted to} ripen until very late because of the incessant rains, and when he came! to cut it, the cotton had grown so] high that his little sickle did irre-arable damage, and that crop in {ts turn was not particularly gratify ing. Ah Fong, consequently,—ex-Perienced a thin winter, and pulling his skirt tighter about his emaciated Waist would, again like Mr. Cassius, dream o' nights. Hence this story.
One night he was dozing of, after having extracted all the nourishment] possible out of half a cup of very weak and exceedingly poor tea, he heard voices outside his hut, one Undoubtedly possessed by a very] convivial spirit.
"It's a long time since 1 saw you Fast?" remarked the one: "Yesh? I'm shurprished you can Bhee me now, hic.'
"Can you see me? I doubt it considering the condition you're in." Was the rather caustic rejoinder of the former, 'Lille, T can shee you avi,' but only when both of you stand shrill.'
"What have you teen doing to set into this state?"
"Been on a binge, hie, down at} the temple along the road there. Fine fellers, them priests. Lovely, chow, sum good slunging; general-fine time enjoyed by all. They been shacrifishing to ush for shree Gays, To-ni? wuz the last ni, ind believe me, big boy, them monks ish all rit The pork! M' lad I never had bet-' for pork in life. Wunnerful shruff. Never had shush 'n'all m'life, Takin'g sum, heme to chil'ren—shee?"
"But I'm surprised to see you carrying such 0 load as that."
"Thash easy. Reckon I'm takin') duff home keep lil toddlers chewing' f'r the nex' shree weeks."
If you had been as hungry as Ah Fong, and had been dozing off, as Ah Fong, you would probably have done what he did. He woke up and listened to the conversation which continued in high-pitched, thin voices.
"Tell yer m'lad. Them priests) ver' fine fellers. Gave me all this food take home children.".
"I'm: surprised you're able to) carry all that. I'm finding myself grow weaker and weaker as—the, Years go on, and you're carrying an enormous Toad.
"Re you referring to my cond—eondishan, arm' burden?"
"Well, both, if you want to take 4b that, way."
"I sh'pose she. You know this @eath business jus's funny as life.'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.